Leaked HTCBolt looks like a mini HTC10, sans headphone jack

The HTC Bolt might be the next smartphone from the struggling Taiwanese manufacturer, and it could share its looks with the HTC 10, according to a leaked image from Evan Blass. Despite the similarities with HTC’s flagship, there appears to be one big feature missing from the Bolt – a 3.5mm audio jack.

It’s tough to tell for sure from the image, but stacking the phone up next to the HTC10 shows an absence of the familiar headphone jack from the top of the phone. Instead, the HTCBolt will likely ship with just a USB Type-C port. The picture also reveals that the LED flash might be moved above the rear camera, but the laser autofocus module seems to have disappeared. The handset also appears to be smaller and also a bit thinner than the 2016 flagship. It might end up being similar in size to the original HTCOne. Other than that though, the look of the two handsets, right down to the antenna lines, is very close indeed.

Of course HTCwouldn’t be the first manufacturer to do away with a headphone jack. Motorola and LeEco have already ditched the connector from their flagships, and Apple’s new iPhone range has done the same. It seems that more and more smartphone manufacturers are keen to make the push towards either digital or wireless audio. On the other hand, this leak may not even be entirely accurate.

There aren’t too many details about the HTCBolt floating around online right now, so we don’t have any rumored specifications just yet. Some will certainly be hoping for a powerful compact flagship from HTC, but it seems more likely that HTCwill stick with its usual practise of cutting down the hardware in its smaller models. I’m hoping to be surprised.

The one rumor we do have to go on is that the phone will likely be unveiled in Otober, quite possibly on the 18th if the date on the screen is to be believed. What would you like to see from the HTCBold?